We’re getting married!!

It was the summer of 2020 and they had both been on Facebook Dating for a couple days before they started messaging back and forth. Once they started talked, they couldn’t stop. After about several days of just messaging, Grant asked Jordan if she liked ice cream. Thus, on a hot day in the middle of the summer they ended up in the drive thru at the Emporia Dairy Queen. They ended up going back to Grant’s apartment where Jordan organized his bookshelf and they watched The Princess Bride. After the movie was over, Grant took Jordan home where she invited him to come to her small graduation party she was hosting. That’s the start of their story.

It was just an ordinary Saturday swim meet. I woke up, went to the pool for warmups and made sure all of my high schoolers were there on time. Slowly but surely, more people I knew kept coming into the pool. Grant and his family I knew were going to be there along with my family (it was the Emporia invitational after all), but then I saw my friends walk in and thought that was a little weird. The meet got started and I didn't think anymore about it, I was coaching and making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. After one event (the 50 Free) there's a 10 minute break and my mom walks over and wants to me go with her. I'm trying to find my boys that were in the next event so that they can get warmed up and all my mom is telling me is that it's okay and I don't need to worry about it. I thought my mom was just going to take me to the bleachers to surprise me with my friends that I saw before the meet even started. I pass Grant on the way thinking that he just needed some fresh air (because ya know, pool areas are kind of warm), I give him a hug on his way by me. My mom stops me and tells me to take off my mask and all I can think is that she's crazy because the building that we're in requires masks. As soon as I take off my mask, my mom turns me around and there's Grant on his knee in front of hundred's of people. I was shaking so much because I was shocked out of my mind. I was not expecting it at all. I think the best part of it was that some of my high school boys knew that it was going to happen before me!

In the week or so leading up to the proposal, I was so excited. It was incredibly difficult for me not to spill the beans! Before I met Jordan, I could never have imagined proposing to someone in the first place- Much less doing it at a high school swim meet... Nevertheless, I was more than happy to do it in front of our family and friends, as well as a few hundred strangers. I awoke that morning to Jordan leaving early for the swim meet. I acted like I was just going back to sleep as that is the usual weekend swim meet routine. In reality, I hadn't been asleep for the better part of an hour and a half. Nor was there a possibility of going back to sleep with the substantial amount of excitement pent up inside me. I knew it was time to hurriedly corral our friends together at our house as Jordan's family was already there. Some hopped in my truck, others got in their vehicles, and we all went to the meet. Upon arrival, it was sure interesting trying to sneak our friends across the pool deck and into the bleachers without Jordan noticing. Thankfully she was busy coaching and we had a good amount of crowd to blend in to as it was near building capacity. We also knew that even if she did see everyone, it would be easy to claim that the reasoning behind their attendance was to support Jordan's coaching efforts. Before I knew it, it was the break between swimming events that we had planned for. It was time to ask one of the most important questions in my entire life. Nikki, being the badass she is, casually walked to the other side of the pool via the bulkhead and fetched the unknowing coach. As they entered the side of the pool where the audience sat, I walked past them, gave Jordan a hug, and acted like I was just going to get a beverage from the concession stand. After I had left Jordan's peripheral vision, I simply stopped and pulled the ring out of my pocket. The unknowing coach was quickly becoming a confused coach as Nikki had Jordan remove her mask (This was during covid hell when everyone was required to wear them), and turn around. As Jordan turned 180 degrees, I was already on one knee holding the ring in front of me! As much as it scared me, she was not able to give an answer right away. She was so shocked that she backed up a few steps before saying yes and letting me have yet another hug. Jordan was actually shaking. Meanwhile, the entire place had erupted with cheering and clapping as everyone in the building had their eyes on us as I proposed. She later told me that it was pretty hard for her to focus throughout the rest of the swim meet. I found out within a few minutes that the proposal made it's way onto the Emporia Gazette Facebook page! On a more serious note, I am extremely grateful to have Jordan in my life. I'm one complacent man knowing I get to spend the rest of my life with her. The fact that she's willing to put up with me for years to come is a testament to her patience, love, compassion, and generosity.